Folding reclining chair



Deco. G. ANDERSON ,431,676

FOLDING REGLININ G CHAIR Filed Jan. 4, 194 2 Sheets-Sheet} Dec. 2, 1947. Q GQANDERSON 2,431,670

FOLDING RECLIN'ING CHAIR Filed Jan. 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING RECLINING CHAIR Olaf G. Anderson; Ironwood, Mich.

Application January 4, 1945, Serial No. 571,332

1 Claim. 1.

This invention relates to a chair and moreparticularly the invention has as an object the provision of a chair which is movable through the shifting of the weight of the occupant, into different positions for supporting the occupant either in an upright sitting position or in positions intermediate upright and completely reclining.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a chair which is quickly and easily collapsible into an extremely compact form.

Another and further object of the invention is the provisionof achair which is comparatively simple of construction and can be cheaply produced yet be durable and highly-efficient in operation and results.

Other objects, novel features of construction, advantages and. improved results of and obtainable by the invention will appear in more detail from the following description when read in the light of the accompanying drawings.

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the chair in an upright position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational'view of the chair ina reclining position, an intermediate position being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the chair in its folded collapsible form.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in vertical section, of the rear end of the seat and lower end of the chair back;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings-and utilizing similar characters and reference numerals throughout the description to designate similar parts, a pair of chair arms-A'each have at their under sides a vertically disposed chair panel designated 5 and 6 respectively. These arms are supported at their front and rear ends on vertically disposed standards. The front standards aredesignated I and the rear standards 3 and 4. The lower ends of these standards are interconnected by braces II] which are connected to the standards at a point above their lower ends. These braces have an end ll extending rearwardly of the rear standards which extending ends are connected by a cross brace or'arm l2. The front standards are supported upon wheels or rollers 5| and 52. The lowermost ends l3 of the rear standards engage the floor as do likewise the rear ends H of the braces Ill. The rearwardly extending ends I I of the bottom braces I0 prevent any possibility of the chair tipping over backwards.

The chair arms are given a conventional shape in that they have wide front end portions 8 while their rear ends 9 are of a reduced width.

To add rigidity to the uprights the front up- 2 rights are interconnected by braces 43 and 44 arranged in criss-cross' relationship and similar braces 45 and 46 extend across the rear standards 3 and 4.

The interconnections between the braces Ill and w the lower ends of the vertical standards and the chair panel 5 with the upper ends of these standards are in the form of pivots.

The pivots l9' at' the upper ends of the rear standards 3 and 4 pivotally support the side frame members M and i5 of the elongated chair back B. The side frames of this back adjacent their upper ends are interconnected by a cross bar 16 and adjacent their lower ends by across bar 52. Slats l8 extend lengthwise of the frame and are secured to these cross bars.

Cross bar 52 is located and the lower ends of the slats stop considerably short of the lower ends of the side frames l4 and I5 and below them .the rear end of a seat C is pivotally connected as at 2| to the side frames. This seat comprises longitudinally extending side members which are interconnected'across their tops by slats 20. At their front ends the side seat frame pieces 1 are preferably curved or shapedas indicatedat la so as not to present a sharp'uncomfortable edge to an occupant of the chair.

The chair back pivotally supports the rear end of the seat as described, while the front end of the seat is supported by apair of arms 22 positioned at opposite sides of the seat and having their upper ends pivotally connected to the same pivot 23 which interconnects the upper ends of the front standards to the arm panel 5' while their lower ends are pivotally connected as at 24 to the seat side members I.

The foot and leg support is provided at the front end of the seat and comprises an open frame having side arms 25 interconnected at their outer ends by a cross bar 28 adapted to receive and support the feet of a chair occupant.

The upper ends of the leg frame side arms are pivotally connected tothe front ends of the seat side member fat 21.

The foot and leg support frame is connected to the chair back by a pair of connecting arms 29 and 30. These arms have their rear ends pivotally connected as at 3| to the lower ends of the chair back side frame members l4 and I5 and their front ends are notched as at 32 to drop over and removably receive the headed 1 pins 33 carried by the side frame members'25 of the foot and leg rest.

Inasmuch as the vertical uprights l, 3 and 4 support the chair seat and back and therefore carry all the weight of an occupant of the chair, these members are additionally braced. This additional bracing comprises a brace arm 34 at each side of the chair. These arms are disposed at an inclination to the vertical and have their lower rear ends pivotally connected as at 36 to the pivot which interconnects the lower ends of the rear vertical standard to the bottom braces wardly against the back of the chair. .'.The chair back, seat and foot and leg rest will then assume the positions illustrated in Fig'. 2 of the drawings.

Although it is not necessary movementIof' the" parts into these positions will be facilitated by exerting, through the feet, an upward and outward pressure on the cross. arm 28 at the outer end of the foot and leg. rest frame.

.Any position .between an upright and a full reclining position can be easily and .quickly attained by the mere manipulation of the weight of the occupant of the chair... 'One, such intermediate position is, illustrated in dotted lines of Fig. 2 of the drawings,

A look for retaining. the chairin apluralityof different positions is illustratedibut' its use is not essential; This lock comprisesia'pair of elongated'lock arms 39. One of these arms is p sitioned at each side of the seat and has its upper end pivotally connected thereto as at il. These arms extend downwardly and rearwardly from the seat and are provided with aplurality of spaced'notches 42' adaptedto receive pins 33 extending inwardly from each of the chair back side frame members 14 and ,I5..' Any number of notches can be provided although only three locking positions are illustratedi When the lock is used itis necessary forthe occupant of the seat to reach'down with-his hands and lift the lock bars out of engagement with the pins when itis desired tomanipulate the chair to another different position. f 1' When it is desired to collapse the "chair" the connection between the foot and leg. rest "and" the chair back is broken by lifting the "forward" ends of the connecting arms 29':a'nd 30'out'of engagement with the pins 33 and by loosening the thumbnuts 38 and disengaging the upper ends of the braces 34 from "the pins. If the lock is in use these barsshould be lifted outof ehgagement from the pins. The chair can'then a be collapsed into compact form as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The chair is collapsed by pushing forward and downwardly on the chair back and lifting upwardly and rearwardly on "the front end of the chair seat.

Although they are not essential "it has been found preferable to utilize washers 49 between the upper ends of'the rear legs and the chair panels and 6 and between said panels and the back side frames l4 and at the 'point of'their pivotal connection l9. Similarly washers 50 are positioned between the lower end of the: braces 34 and the lower ends of the rear legs and-between said legs and the bottom frame elements to at the point 36 of their pivotal connections.

From the description and the drawings it will be understood that the seat is pivotally mounted to swing and move about its quadruple pivotal points I9, 23, 2| and 24. The chair back swings about its pivotal support: I 9. Asa consequence of. the linkage as the seat is moved forwardly the back is tilted downwardly and as the seat is swung rearwardly the chair back swings forwardly. During the swinging operation of the seat the foot and leg support is swung up and down in accord with the direction of movement with the seat. Normally when the chair is in an upright position as illustrated in Fig. 1 the feet of the occupant would be placed upon the floor.

Provision of the wheels 5| and 52 is optional. By their use movement of the chair about the room is facilitated.

Modifications in the construction can be made without departing from the inventive concept and the invention is to be limited only within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

In a collapsible and adjustable reclining chair, arms at each side thereof, front and back legs, said legs having their upper ends pivotally con nected to said chair arms, the lower ends of the front legs being supported upon rollers, the lower ends of the rear legs adapted to engage the floor, a brace element at each side of the chair-and interconnecting respectively a front and rear 'leg, the connection of said brace elements with said legs being pivotal, said brace elements being disposed at an inclination to the horizontal and having their rear ends extending rearwardly beyond said rear legs and engaging the floor. to prevent the chair from tipping over backward, a chair back between the rear ends of the chair arms and pivotally connectedintermediate its length to said arms, a seat pivotally supported at its rear end on said chair back, arms pivotally' connected to each side of said seat adjacent itsv front end and extending upwardly and having pivotal connection at their upper ends with said chairarms, a foot and leg support pivotally connected to the front end of the seat, elements interconnecting said last named supportwith the chair back at a point below the seat, said elements being pivotally connected to the chair back and the leg support, braces interconnecting the front and rear legs at each side of the chair for holding the legs in upright positions, said braces being pivotally connected to the rear legs adja cent their lower ends and having detachable pivotal connection with the front legs at a point substantially midway their lengths, rigid cross" braces interconnecting the front legs, rigid cross braces interconnecting the rear legs, the parts.

operating as and for the purpose described' OLAF G. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

